The International Cricket Council (ICC) organises various T20 and T10 leagues around the world to increase the popularity of cricket. However, the ICC recently banned the USA’s National Cricket League (NCL) within a year of its approval due to league’s operational inefficiencies and regulatory breaches. The National Cricket League is one of the growing cricket leagues in the USA, but the ICC’s recent move has disheartened fans and serves as a reminder to the organising body of the need to follow laws and guidelines.
Reasons for banning the National Cricket League
The ICC has its own set of strict guidelines, which every organising body must follow. Several breaches in the NCL led the ICC to take action and ban the league from future editions. The league was banned for violating the rules regarding the playing eleven. In this league, more than half of the players in the playing eleven were found to be from other countries, which contravened ICC regulations. The consistent inclusion of 6-7 overseas players in the playing elevens flagrantly breached the governing body’s rules.
Operational inefficiencies plagued the league both on and off the field. One glaring issue was the substandard wickets at the temporary venue, raising serious concerns about player safety. High-profile bowlers like Wahab Riaz and Tymal Mills were reportedly forced to bowl spin due to the pitch conditions, which posed a significant injury risk to the batters.
For major sporting events in the United States, it typically costs around USD 200,000 for sports visas for a tournament with nearly six teams. However, it was reported that not all NCL participants entered the U.S. on valid sports visas, suggesting that the league might have bypassed proper legal channels to cut costs. This oversight, or rather deliberate tactic, raised further red flags about the league’s management practices.
Former West Indies icon Vivian Richards and Pakistan legend Wasim Akram were appointed as brand ambassadors for the USA’s National Cricket League. Meanwhile, the ICC issued a letter regarding the ban. Despite efforts to draw attention by enlisting cricketing greats Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar into the ownership group, the NCL struggled to overcome its fundamental issues.
USAC response
In the wake of the ICC’s actions regarding the NCL, USA Cricket (USAC) may be heeding the warnings from the governing body. It has refused to sanction the US Open T20, one of several pop-up tournaments it has run for more than a decade. While the reasons for refusing to sanction the US Open T20 are unknown, it may be part of a broader effort by the ICC to reset the standards for sanctioning leagues globally. This indicates the ICC’s emphasis on implementing rules to maintain the integrity and sustainability of the game.
Looking for regulated excitement? Whether you’re chasing high-stakes action, instant payouts, or unbeatable bonuses, SiGMA Play connects you to the best sports betting sites. Your journey to the ultimate gaming experience begins now!
